What is the heel stone for in the Stonehenge?

Answer 1

The Heel Stone stands at the end of what was Stonehenge Avenue, the ceremonial route up to the henge, just outside the the entrance to the stone circle enclosure. When one stands within the enclosure, facing north-east through the entrance, one sees the summer solstice sun rise over the Heel Stone. In other words, it was and still is a marker stone for summer solstice. (The opposite side of Stonehenge faces the winter solstice sunset.)

In 1980 a hole was discovered in the grass near the Heel Stone, indicating that it once had a companion stone.

The Heel Stone is a rough, unwrought sarsen stone, approximately 16 feet high (4.88 metres), with another 4 feet (1.22 metres) buried below ground. 8 feet (2.9 metres) wide, 7 feet (2.55 metres) thick, and weighing some 35 tons. It is surrounded by a small circular ditch approximately 27-33 feet (10-12 metres) in diameter and now leans inwards, towards the henge, but most likely once stood upright.

The name may be derived from the Greek word for the sun - 'Helios' or it may be derived from the old British word 'heol - track', because it stands beside the Avenue. A more simple explanation might be that it "heels" (leans).